My tribe has had a long, tumultuous relationship with idols. Abraham, the first Jew, delivered a smack-down to his father Terach’s idols as a symbol of rebellion. A mere 41 days after Moses went up Mt. Sinai to transcribe the Torah, he comes down to find his people dancing in a frenzied orgy around a copper cow (excuse me, “golden calf”). Our Top Ten Commandments devote prime placement to the fact that we should never bow down to graven images, statues, or anything else even remotely smelling like an idol. But anyone who thinks that Judaism has always basked in the sunshine of monotheism should go back and reread their history books. Whether picking up tips from their Egyptian taskmasters or the Canaanites with whom they would share zip codes, idol worship has always been a stone’s throw from the Jewish experience.
And today is no different.
As I professed in my blog entry a few weeks ago, I have a bit of a fascination with American Idol. Not just as an enjoyable time-filler on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but as a social and cultural phenomenon. (And to see what bizarre things will come out of Paula Abdul’s mouth on any given night.)
I enjoy watching and rooting for my favorite contestants, karaoke-ing along to radio-friendly hits from the Motown era or Michael Jackson discography (before he became a photonegative of himself), and seeing how Simon will throw his devil’s pitchfork into the dreams of yet another innocent kid with stars in their eyes. But what’s most satisfying is when I discover that one of the final contestants is a member of my Idol-worshipping religion. It happened with Elliot Yamin a few years ago, and this year, the Golden Chai belongs to….Adam Lambert!
Don’t believe me? Check out the video above. Not many Idol divas rock out to Israeli peace anthems. I already liked Adam before, but now I feel some deeper sense of allegiance, some inexplicable bond (even though my husband thinks he’s a musical theatre scenery-chewer in faux emo clothing).
Will Adam’s Hebrew heritage affect whether you vote for him? Are you intrigued by the thought of a Jewish American idol? Your thoughts below…
Jamie
04/02/2009 at 1:11 pm |
This is such good news! Ha. Thanks for the post.
Kaylana
04/02/2009 at 1:15 pm |
He is so crazy talented isn’t he? I wouldn’t have guesses that he was Jewish either. Is there an Israeli AI? Tons of countries have their own versions.
bizmonides
04/13/2009 at 5:32 pm |
indeed, israel’s version is called “Kochav Nolad” (A Star is Born)
Melanie
04/14/2009 at 10:25 am |
It is still unclear if he is Jewish, even though he sang for this Jewish event. However, he also sang at a Chabad Lubavitch Jewish telethon a few years ago, and he played Joshua in an off Broadway Play, so all together, that may indicate that he is Jewish. He may not identify now with his Jewishness, but he obviously did in his past. He did a great job singing at the Israeli event for memorializing Rabin.
Jaime Walman
04/14/2009 at 2:22 pm |
Why do you think he doesn’t identify with his Jewishness? Because he hasn’t sung any Jewish songs on AI? Or, it hasn’t been talked about in the media?
Ratso
04/14/2009 at 6:41 pm |
Funny, he looks Jewish!
Beth
04/15/2009 at 2:43 am |
intersting how people might assume he isnt connected to his jewishness, when “jewishness” to me has been something we dont nessecarily ever “lkose” but instead kind of “it becomes part of everything we do” even if we know it or not… I actually figuredhe was jewish cause 1)his name is adam lambert.. a very jewish name a2) his parents interview like jewish parents… lol ( thats not even supposed to be funny thopugh i cant believe i am using it ) and…. a gay jewish actor and singer? NEVER!
annie brooks
04/16/2009 at 3:42 pm |
Adam is fabulous…gay, Jewish or not. I viewed the video memorializing Rabin and thought his voice was strong yet sensitive. He’s terrific and I look forward to hearing him in the future.